1968 Chevrolet C10 Air Conditioning Install - Creature Comforts On Ice, Part Two

When we left off last month, I’d pulled all the stock heater junk out of the truck and installed the condenser and dash vents, as well as the firewall block-off plates that covered the void left from the OEM heater box assembly. Returning to the project this month, we’ll begin by installing the evaporator core under the dash along with the ducting to each vent. From there we’ll wire the unit up starting under the dash and working our way towards the battery, hooking up the binary switch, grounds, and compressor. Since the SureFit kit comes ready to rock from Vintage Air, all the hoses and lines are cut to fit so it’s a simple matter of mating each end to their respective connection and we’re ready to charge the system.

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One of the neatest features of the SureFit kit is the ability to use the stock A/C control unit, without the mechanical cables that the stock system used. Instead, Vintage Air utilizes a patented, ingenious cable converter system that sends the location of each switch electronically to the corresponding actuator. For example, when the fan switch is slid to “high,” the fan motor receives a signal telling it to turn on to its highest setting. This makes wiring the system a simple plug-and-play procedure and yields a very user-friendly control system once the panel is properly calibrated.

After completing the install, it was time to charge the system. This is best trusted to a certified A/C mechanic with the proper equipment as the system needs to be evacuated to remove any moisture that might be present before being charged using 1.8 pounds (28.8oz.) of R134a refrigerant. Once charged, the high-side pressure should read between 160-250 psi while the low-side pressure should be between 6-12 psi in a steady state. Center duct temperature should be between 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit. If your system matches these parameters, you’re good to go!

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I put the system to the test right off the bat, blasting off from the office on a 90-degree late Summer day to sit on the 405 freeway during rush hour Southern California traffic. This time though, I was prepared and managed to sit in traffic in a state that I’ve never been accustomed to, comfort. With the A/C set to cold and the fan on medium, sitting in traffic with the sun beating down on the truck, it really didn’t seem all that bad. In fact, it was quite tolerable. Actually, it was comfortable. What usually would have been a miserable experience was made quite pleasant given the fact that I could keep the windows rolled up and adjust the temperature of the cab to suit my taste. I think I could get used to this kind of commuting. CCT